War and Peace
Nov. 27th, 2010 10:20 pmWar and Peace
Star Troupe, 1988
Stars: Hyuuga Kaoru & Minakaze Mai
[ TakaWiki ]
Summary:
This arrangement of the War and Peace novel begins about half-way through book two, with the temporary truce brookered between Russia and France. Pierre has already married and become estranged from Hélène, and Prince Andrei's wife Lise has already passed away.
The action of the musical opens at Natasha's first grand ball, where through Pierre's kindness she meets and dances with Prince Andrei, and the two fall in love. In short time Prince Andrei returns to his father's home to talk with his father about marrying Natasha. His father urges caution, particularly when his many absences have already left the burden of raising Prince Andrei's son on his sister's shoulders. Prince Andrei and Natasha thus begin a secret (from society), year-long engagement, and Prince Andrei promises the young Natasha that if she changes her mind or falls in love with another man throughout that year, she is free to break the engagement.
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What I Thought:
I had both a lot of high expectations going into this show, and low expectations.
Low, because I love War and Peace, the novel and the Russian epic film. It's hard to live up to something you imprinted on as a pre-teen. Low. also, because it's 80s Takarazuka. And, finally, because it was written and directed by Ueda Shinji.
High, because I love the story, because it was the last performance for Haruna Yuri and Tajima Kumi, and because Asaji Saki played Kuragin (I had such a crush on Kuragin as a teenager. I know, I'm weird.).
( Read more... )
The costumes were meh, the ballroom dance scenes were epic.
All in all, bits of give and take, but over all I left feeling very happy about it. Surprisingly so, perhaps? In retrospect, it was the perfect vehicle to see off a top musumeyaku and a legend like Haruna Yuri, while still giving juicy scenes to the top star and her nibante.
Star Troupe, 1988
Stars: Hyuuga Kaoru & Minakaze Mai
[ TakaWiki ]
Summary:
This arrangement of the War and Peace novel begins about half-way through book two, with the temporary truce brookered between Russia and France. Pierre has already married and become estranged from Hélène, and Prince Andrei's wife Lise has already passed away.
The action of the musical opens at Natasha's first grand ball, where through Pierre's kindness she meets and dances with Prince Andrei, and the two fall in love. In short time Prince Andrei returns to his father's home to talk with his father about marrying Natasha. His father urges caution, particularly when his many absences have already left the burden of raising Prince Andrei's son on his sister's shoulders. Prince Andrei and Natasha thus begin a secret (from society), year-long engagement, and Prince Andrei promises the young Natasha that if she changes her mind or falls in love with another man throughout that year, she is free to break the engagement.
What I Thought:
I had both a lot of high expectations going into this show, and low expectations.
Low, because I love War and Peace, the novel and the Russian epic film. It's hard to live up to something you imprinted on as a pre-teen. Low. also, because it's 80s Takarazuka. And, finally, because it was written and directed by Ueda Shinji.
High, because I love the story, because it was the last performance for Haruna Yuri and Tajima Kumi, and because Asaji Saki played Kuragin (I had such a crush on Kuragin as a teenager. I know, I'm weird.).
The costumes were meh, the ballroom dance scenes were epic.
All in all, bits of give and take, but over all I left feeling very happy about it. Surprisingly so, perhaps? In retrospect, it was the perfect vehicle to see off a top musumeyaku and a legend like Haruna Yuri, while still giving juicy scenes to the top star and her nibante.